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Myers excited to shift from BP to real games

Rays outfielder Wil Myers discusses his difficult start to Spring Training in 2013 and how he looks to get off to a better start this year

By Bill Chastain
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MLB.com |

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- Count Wil Myers among the players in the Rays clubhouse who were ready to begin playing games.

For the reigning American League Rookie of the Year, he much prefers hitting in game situations to live batting practice sessions.

"The biggest thing about the live BPs for me, it's just totally different than the game," Myers said. "One good part is you can track, see a speed, see a spin, which is nice, but there's nothing that compares to an actual game at bat."

Myers sounded eager to get his game in gear and he's not ready to rest on his laurels.

"I still feel like I have things to prove here," Myers said. "I'm not at Spring Training to go through the motions. I still have things I have to prove and get ready for the season."

Manager Joe Maddon echoed that sentiment when asked by a reporter Friday morning, "How does [Myers] get any better?"

"There's lots of room for improvement there," Maddon said. "He knows that. You look on the surface, and of course he hits the ball extremely hard. Just an approach at the plate in different moments can get better. Defense in general can get better. He's a pretty good baserunner.

"But again, he's just a young man. The league's going to adjust to him. He's coming off a significant first season. We have our ideas how we want him to get better. He's very open to it. There's actually a lot of room for improvement."

Myers certainly has room to improve, but he'll be starting at a pretty high mark after hitting .293 with 13 home runs and 53 RBIs in 88 games in 2013.

Bill Chastain is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.